Reflections on Life, Christianity, and Other Narrow Thoughts

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Tag Healing

Having just returned from eight days in Mexico, there are a myriad of emotions running through my mind and heart. The needs in Mexico are so great and the resources are so few. It is easy to come home overwhelmed and flustered as to where to begin in meeting those needs.

This is a picture of Pancho (to my left) and another older man from the church which we planted there (Bachiniva, Chihuahua, Mexico) approximately eight years ago. I had met Pancho on a previous trip and prayed for him when we learned that he had throat cancer. Some of you may have read some of the posts from the House of Blessing blog. If you have not read those posts, you can do so by clicking here and reading the particular posts that give updates on Pancho, from the early stages of his cancer.

The doctors have said that the prognosis of Pancho’s cancer is not good. They believe that in a short time the disease will take his life. By all indication from our recent visit with him, unless the Lord chooses otherwise, they will prove to be right. We visited Pancho one more time after this picture was taken. He told us, “I am not afraid of the cancer, I am not afraid to die, but I am afraid of the pain.”

As I ponder the frailty of this life, I realize more than ever how we must redeem the time.

Ephesians 5:15-17
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

I came home with an even stronger desire to seek God’s will in how He would use me to reach people for Christ. The Bible is clear that it is appointed for each person to die ‘once’ and then comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

Healthcare in Mexico is archaic at best, and there are many who struggle to even receive any medical care at all. While it would be easy to focus all of our attention on seeking medical care and comfort for those who are sick, we must not get distracted from Mexico’s greatest need.

It was Warren Wiersbe who wrote in his book, “On Being a Servant of God”:

“Man’s greatest need is to be rightly related to God.”

There are many who are sick among us, with cancer and other life threatening ailments. However, we must never forget the greater need for everyone, is to be healed spiritually. The reality is this, whether you die of cancer or natural causes, to die without Christ is to pass from this life to an eternity of torment and pain that will never end.

Revelation 20:14-15
Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Oh how we must seek wisdom on how we might be best equipped to win the lost for Christ and insure that their names are written in “the Book of Life”.

Father, show us how to be effective proclaimers of the Gospel and makers of disciples for Your kingdom. Break our hearts in those things that break Your heart. Give us wisdom and a boldness like never before that we might live in the reality of the frailty of this life and the urgent need for people in all nations to come to know you. In Jesus’ name we pray…Amen!